Biased selection process: KMU vice chancellor sent packing

PHC directs academic search committee to start the process of selecting and appointing new head of institution

PESHAWAR: In a blow to the medical university, the Peshawar High Court on Friday set aside the appointment of Professor Dr Arshad Javed as vice chancellor of the Khyber Medical University (KMU) and directed the academic search committee to start the process for selecting and appointing a new head of the institution.

This was ordered in a detailed judgment authored by Peshawar High Court (PHC) Justice Ikramullah Khan in a case filed by Professor Dr Hafiz Ziaul Islam through senior lawyer Mian Muhibullah Kakakhel and advocate Saifullah Muhib Kakakhel.

Dr Islam had claimed that members the selection committee allegedly had a grudge against him since he was not shortlisted to interview for the post even though he fulfilled the criteria.



“Not shortlisting the petitioner is an arbitrary act of the respondents. It is without jurisdiction and legal authority,” the lawyer for the petitioner argued.

Moreover, Dr Islam had alleged that the merit of Dr Javed was not clear.

He has also objected to the constitution of the academic search committee, claiming that it was not constituted as per the rules is envisaged in the K-P universities act.

While Dr Islam did not question the appointment of Dr Javed, he did challenge the shortlisting process. In this regards, the court ruled that if the shortlisting process was not transparent, the foundation of whole edifice built on it would not be firm, hence Dr Javed would have to go.

The July 2017 notification appointing Dr Javed as KMU vice chancellor was subsequently set aside and the academic search committee was directed to start afresh the process for selecting a new VC on merit and recommend three most suitable candidates as per the criteria laid down in the law.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 17^th, 2018.